Three cheers for the read, white and blue

Carl White

Published 4:19 pm, Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Pauline Meier's "American Scripture: making the Declaration of Independence" shows thethe Declaration "as both the defining statement of our national identity and the moral standard by which we live as a nation," says Carl White, history librarian at Greenwich Library.
Photo: Contributed Photo

Pauline Meier's "American Scripture: making the Declaration of...

Are you a history buff looking for something to watch over the holiday weekend? Try "Declaration of Independence," says Carl White, local history librarian at Greenwich Library. "Explore the political forces that existed before 1776 and the socioeconomic realities that made it necessary to declare to the world our independence from Great Britain," says White.
Photo: Contributed Photo

Are you a history buff looking for something to watch over the...

"Signing Their Lives Away: The Fame and Misfortune of the Men Who Signed the Declaration of Independence," by Denise Kiernan, looks at the 56 menwho risked their lives and livelihood to defy King George III and sign the Declaration of Independence.
Photo: Contributed Photo

In honor of Independence Day, our local history librarian Carl White shares his picks to explore the origins of our nation.

"Declaration: The Nine Tumultuous Weeks When America Became Independent," by William Hogeland

Hogeland brings to vibrant life both the day-to-day excitement and the profound importance of those nine fast-paced weeks essential to the American founding, yet little known today. He focuses on the circumstances in Colonial life that led Americans to fight for their independence from Britain and provides interesting background information on the key players.

Robinson explores the principles that guided the founding of the United States, the conditions that led to the break with Great Britain and the creation of such founding documents as the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. He also discusses our connection to French and Greek forms of government. The library owns this book in audiobook format.

Beeman, an American historian and professor at the University of Pennsylvania, describes the political, diplomatic and military challenges faced by the delegates from the 13 original colonies at the Continental Congress and how they came together to agree to free themselves from British rule and forge independence for America. He also presents portraits of the many personalities involved.

"Signing Their Lives Away: The Fame and Misfortune of the Men Who Signed the Declaration of Independence," by Denise Kiernan

This book examines the Declaration of Independence from a different angle. In the summer of 1776, 56 men risked their lives and livelihood to defy King George III and sign the Declaration of Independence, yet how many of them do we actually remember? "Signing Their Lives Away" introduces readers to the eclectic group of statesmen, soldiers, slaveholders and scoundrels who signed this historic document and the many strange fates that awaited them. Some prospered and rose to the highest levels of the United States government, while others had their homes and farms seized by British soldiers. Signer George Wythe was poisoned by his nephew; Button Gwinnett was killed in a duel; Robert Morris went to prison and Thomas Lynch was lost at sea. Complete with portraits of the signers, as well as a facsimile of the Declaration of Independence, "Signing Their Lives Away" provides an entertaining and enlightening narrative for history buffs of all ages.

"American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence," by Pauline Maier

Historian Maier shows us the Declaration as both the defining statement of our national identity and the moral standard by which we live as a nation. She discloses the origins of key ideas and phrases in the Declaration and unravels the complex story of its drafting and of the group editing that angered Thomas Jefferson. She also reveals what happened after the signing and celebration -- how it was largely forgotten and then revived to buttress political arguments of the 19th century, and how Abraham Lincoln ensured its persistence as a living force in American society.

This is a great book for young children who want to learn more about the Declaration. It also provides portraits of the Founding Fathers.

"Declaration of Independence"

This downloadable video is available instantly through Hoopla, the library's digital media provider. Explore the political forces that existed before 1776 and the socioeconomic realities that made it necessary to declare to the world our independence from Great Britain. Examine the body of knowledge that contributed to the Declaration of Independence, such as the Magna Carta of 1215. Fresh meaning to this extraordinary document is presented and these questions are answered: Why is John Hancock's signature so prominent? Considering it was adopted on July 2, 1776, why do we celebrate our independence on the Fourth of July? Who is generally credited as the principal author of the Declaration of Independence? Great American thinkers, political leaders and presidents have reflected on this document long after it was written. Noted educators and elected officials share their thoughts and insights on one of America's most important manuscripts.